title: Green tea polyphenols avert chronic inflammation-induced myocardial fibrosis of female rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Green tea proposes anti-inflammatory properties which may attenuate chronic inflammation-induced fibrosis of vessels. This study evaluated whether green tea polyphenols (GTP) can avert fibrosis or vascular disruption along with mechanisms in rats with chronic inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty 3-month-old female rats were assigned to a 2 (placebo vs. lipopolysaccharide, administration) × 2 (no GTP vs. 0.5% GTP in drinking water) factorial design for 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Masson's trichrome staining evaluated myocardial fibrosis in coronary vessels and surrounding myocardium. Whole blood specimens were counted for differentials. Spleen tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA expression was determined by real-time RT-PCR. Data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by mean separation procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks, lipopolysaccharide administration induced myocardial fibrosis in vessels and surrounding myocardium, spleen TNF-α mRNA expression, and leukocytes, while GTP supplementation in drinking water significantly averted such observation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GTP attenuates myocardial fibrosis through a suppression of chronic inflammation and innate immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, BB 198, 3601 4th street, Lubbock, TX 79430-9097, USA. leslie.shen@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Chwan-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Samathanam
authors.forename: Owatha L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Tatum
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tubb
authors.forename: Jay J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Dale M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Jia-Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D013662:Tea; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha